Why Prince Harry sits with Kate Middleton during Trooping the Colour

It all makes sense now

Words by Jadie Troy-Pryde

This weekend the Queen celebrated her official birthday with the annual Trooping the Colour event. Although it was a day of celebration, the Queen was praised for sharing an emotional tribute to the nation and she held a minute's silence for all those affected by the recent terrorist attacks across the country, as well as the tragic Grenfell Tower fire.

She was joined by the royal family, hundreds of her guards, and thousands of members of the public who waited on The Mall to see the monarch.

But if you watched closely during, you may have noticed that Prince Harry didn't ride on horseback alongside his father, Prince Charles, and brother, Prince William.

Instead, Harry rode in a carriage with his sister-in-law, Kate Middleton and Camillia, Duchess of Cornwall.

But why?

It turns out that it actually has something to do with where Harry ranks in terms of position.

Prince William and Prince Charles are royal colonels. It's a position given to a member of the royal family by the Queen if they serve as a Colonel-in-Chief of a regiment in the British army or navy. Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward are also royal colonels.

However, the honour is not enough to warrant a horseback entrance during Trooping the Colour. Charles, William and Anne are given the privilege as they are all Colonels of the Household Division, but as Harry is yet to be made a royal colonel he instead rides alongside Kate and Camilla.

Considering he has a long history of involvement with the military, we're sure Harry will be bestowed the honour soon - perhaps once he has popped the question to his girlfriend, Meghan Markle...